Wednesday, August 2, 2017

BEAUTY: Interior--Ashley Hicks' London Apartment

Ashley Hicks, son of legendary interior designer David Hicks, and his wife Kata created an eclectic, highly personal, artistic oasis in London using much of Ashley's own furniture designs, unique creations, and art work! This is not so much a home as it is a complete statement of a singular artistic vision.

Things are interesting right away: in the cork-lined entryway, an inflatable Niki de Saint Phalle sculpture entitled, appropriately enough, Inflatable Nana, hangs in the corridor.

The mural in the living room is a hand-painted scene of Constantinople in 1818...with faceted pendants.

Hicks made the mirror over the fireplace and glass totem sculpture at right.

Hicks made the malachite-topped console table and the turquoise and blue sculptures sitting atop.

While they were working on their flat, Hicks and his wife had a mantra: "This is not Versailles," reminding themselves not to get too precious, and to keep the decor ideas fresh and quirky. This motto, in French, ended up on a frieze in the kitchen which features a backsplash and geometric nailhead-studded cabinetry by Hicks.

As Ashley peeks in on Kata, we can see that the master bedroom is clad in fascinating murals like the living room.

The guest room/dressing room features a metallic wallpaper by Lee Jofa and informal portraits by Hicks inlcuding one of his cousin, Queen Elizabeth II. The orange wardrobe with unusual door hardware and carpet are by Hicks.

The master bathroom utilizes a collage of Hicks' photos of museum artifacts in the shower area (notice the tub skirt says "MVSÆVM").

About Me

About "Oh, By The Way"

"Oh, By The Way" is my digital scrap book of things I like, things I would share with a close friend and say: “Oh, by the way, do you know of this artist/ clothing or interior designer/ model/ singer/ actor/ gorgeous man… or, have you seen this video/ photo/ film... or heard (or do you remember) this song/ band... or, read this book/ poem/ inspiring quote... or, visited this place/ restaurant/ famous building... or, have you heard of this amazing new scientific discovery?”

I am dedicated to posting the positive, the fascinating, the beautiful, the interesting, the moving, and the inspiring and uplifting. Sometimes I post cultural as well as personal observations, milestones, and remembrances. And just like life, all of these things may often have a bit of melancholy or even sadness in them, which is what makes our time here so lovely and bittersweet and precious.

Some of the photos, art, poetry, and prose are my own original work, credited with my initials, JEF. When it isn't, I always try to post links to the original source material, but often I find photos on the web that are not linked or other material that is not sourced. In these instances, I post them without malice since it is assumed that such things, by being globally posted on something as uncontrollable as the internet to begin with, are in the public domain. If you identify the source of an image that is not linked, please politely let me know (without accusing me of theft) and I will be happy to provide a link.

I hope to inspire and entertain my readers with things that inspire and entertain ME. There is a startling amount of beauty and creativity in the world and it enriches us all to participate in it.

All-time Favorite Films

2001: A Space Odyssey (Kubrick)

After Hours (Hysterical, hair-raising ride through NYC at night)

Amelie

American Beauty (Alan Ball)

Baraka (Stunning, transcending—the "spiritus mundi" on film)

Belle et Bete (Cocteau)

Big Sleep, The (The epitome of film noir)

Bringing Up Baby (Hepburn & Grant—the epitome of screwball comedy)

Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover, The (Greenaway)

Crash (Cronenberg—DIFFICULT subject, not for everyone)

Don’t Look Now (Nicolas Roeg—ultimate modern gothic horror)

Drowning By Numbers (Greenaway)

Easy Rider

Edward II (Derek Jarman)

Erendira (From magic realist Marquez’ brilliant short story)

Eyes Wide Shut (Kubrick's last film)

Fearless (Jeff Bridges—life and death)

Funny Bones (Leslie Caron, Jerry Lewis, and the brilliant Lee Evans)

Holiday (Hepburn & Grant)

Howard’s End (The ultimate statement of the unfairness of class systems)